In this work it was studied soil organic matter from a gley soil, using ESR (electron spin resonance spectroscopy). The studied soil samples were collected in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Humic and fulvic acid, humin macromolecules, and whole soil samples were analyzed. The results showed that the amount and line width of semiquinone free radical from whole soil samples had good correlation with humin fraction and no correlation with humic and fulvic acids contents.

Rats fed a high-fat ethanol-containing diet for 2 weeks were found to generate free radicals in liver and heart in vivo. The radicals are believed to be carbon-centered radicals, were detected by administering spin-trapping agents to the rats, and were characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The radicals in the liver were demonstrated to be localized in the endoplasmic reticulum. Rats fed ethanol in a low-fat diet showed significantly less free radical generation. Control animals given isocaloric diets without ethanol showed no evidence of free radicals in liver and heart. When liver microsomes prepared from rats fed the high-fat ethanol diet were incubated in a system containing ethanol, NADPH, and a spin-trapping agent, the generation of 1-hydroxyethyl radicals was observed. The latter was verified by using 13C-substituted ethanol. Microsomes from animals fed the high-fat ethanol-containing diet had higher levels of cytochrome P-450 than microsomes from rats fed the low-fat ethanol-containing diet. The results suggest that the consumption of ethanol results in the production of free radicals in rat liver and heart in vivo that appear to initiate lipid peroxidation.

It has been proposed that oxygen free radicals mediate damage that occurs during postischemic reperfusion. Recombinant human superoxide dismutase (r-h-SOD) has been shown to be effective at reducing reperfusion injury, but it is not known if this infused enzyme actually reduces oxygen free radical concentrations in the myocardial tissue. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to directly measure the effect of r-h-SOD on free radical concentrations in the postischemic heart. Hearts were freeze clamped at 77 degrees K after 10 min of normothermic global ischemia followed by 10 s of reflow with control perfusate (n = 7) or perfusate containing 60,000 U r-h-SOD (n = 7). The spectra of these hearts exhibited three different signals: signal A isotropic, g = 2.004, identical to the carbon-centered ubiquinone free radical; signal B anisotropic with axial symmetry, g parallel = 2.033, g perpendicular = 2.005, identical to the oxygen-centered alkyl peroxyl free radical; and the signal C an isotropic triplet, g parallel = 2.000, an = 24 G, similar to a nitrogen-centered free radical such as a peroxyl amine. With r-h-SOD administration the concentration of the oxygen free radical, signal B, was reduced 49% from 6.8 +/- 0.3 microM to 3.5 +/- 0.3 microM (P less than 0.01) and the concentration of the nitrogen free radical...

Cigarette smoke contains two very different populations of free radicals, one in the tar and one in the gas phase. The tar phase contains several relatively stable free radicals; we have identified the principal radical as a quinone/hydroquinone (Q/QH2) complex held in the tarry matrix. We suggest that this Q/QH2 polymer is an active redox system that is capable of reducing molecular oxygen to produce superoxide, eventually leading to hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. In addition, we have shown that the principal radical in tar reacts with DNA in vitro, possibly by covalent binding. The gas phase of cigarette smoke contains small oxygen- and carbon-centered radicals that are much more reactive than are the tar-phase radicals. These gas-phase radicals do not arise in the flame, but rather are produced in a steady state by the oxidation of NO to NO2, which then reacts with reactive species in smoke such as isoprene. We suggest that these radicals and the metastable products derived from these radical reactions may be responsible for the inactivation of alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor by fresh smoke. Cigarette smoke oxidizes thiols to disulfides; we suggest the active oxidants are NO and NO2. The effects of smoke on lipid peroxidation are complex...

1. The influence of ACTH-(1-24) on the blood levels of highly reactive free radicals in haemorrhagic shock was studied in rats. 2. Volume-controlled haemorrhagic shock was produced in adult rats under general anaesthesia (urethane, 1.25 g kg-1 intraperitoneally) by stepwise bleeding until mean arterial pressure stabilized at 20-23 mmHg. Rats were intravenously (i.v.) treated with either ACTH-(1-24) (160 micrograms kg-1 in a volume of 1 ml kg-1) or equivolume saline. Free radicals were measured in arterial blood by electron spin resonance spectrometry using an ex vivo method that avoids injection of the spin-trapping agent (alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone). 3. Blood levels of free radicals were 6490 +/- 273 [arbitrary units (a.u.) ml-1 whole blood, before starting bleeding, and 30762 +/- 2650 after bleeding termination (means +/- s.e. mean of the values obtained in all experimental groups). All rats treated with saline died within 30 min, their blood levels of free radicals being 35450 +/- 5450 a.u. ml-1 blood, 15 min after treatment. Treatment with ACTH-(1-24) produced a rapid and sustained restoration of arterial pressure, pulse pressure, heart rate and respiratory function, with 100% survival at the end of the observation period (2 h); this was associated with an impressive reduction in the blood levels of free radicals...

The biochemical sequelae to chloroethyl mustard exposure correspond very well to toxic processes initiated by free radicals. Additionally, mustard solutions contain spontaneously formed cyclic onium ions which produce carbon free radicals when reduced electrochemically. Therefore, we hypothesized that the onium ions of sulfur or nitrogen mustards might produce carbon free radicals upon being reduced enzymatically, and that these radicals might constitute a metabolic activation. We set out to document radical production using an in vitro metabolic system and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Our system consisted of NADPH, one of several pyridine nucleotide-driven flavoprotein reductases, cytochrome c as a terminal electron acceptor, various sulfur or nitrogen mustards and the spin trap α-[4-pyridyl-1-oxide]-N-tert-butylnitrone in buffer. Reactions were started by adding the reductase to the other materials, vortexing and immediately transferring the mixture to a 10 mm EPR flat cell. Repeated scans on a Bruker ESP 300E EPR spectrometer produced a triplet of doublets with hyperfine splitting constants of aN = 15.483 G and aH = 2.512 G. The outcome supported our hypothesis that carbon-centered free radicals are produced when mustard-related onium ions are enzymatically reduced. The EPR results varied little with the chloroethyl compound used or with porcine or human cytochrome P450 reductase...

The essentiality of polyunsaturated lipids makes membranes susceptible to peroxidative modifications. One of the most contemporary examples includes selective peroxidation of cardiolipin in mitochondria of cells undergoing apoptosis. Cardiolipin peroxidation products are required for the mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, release of pro-apoptotic factors and completion of the cell death program. Therefore, search for effective inhibitors of cardiolipin peroxidation is critical to discovery and development of anti-apoptotic antioxidants. Mitochondria contain significant amounts of α-tocopherol, a well known scavenger of reactive free radicals. In the present study, we used an oxidative lipidomics approach to evaluate the effect of α-tocopherol and its homologues with different lengths of the side-chain such as 2,5,7,8,-tetramethyl-2(4-methylpentyl)-6-chromanol and 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-chromanol, on oxidation of tetralinoleoyl cardiolipin induced by cytochrome c in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Our data indicate that vitamin E homologues inhibit not only accumulation of tetralinoleoyl cardiolipin hydroperoxides but also hydroxy-derivatives of tetralinoleoyl cardiolipin formed in the enzymatic peroxidase half-reaction catalyzed by cytochrome c. This suggests that protective effects of vitamin E homologues against tetralinoleoyl cardiolipin peroxidation catalyzed by cytochrome c/hydrogen peroxide are realized largely due to their effects on the peroxidase activity of cytochrome c towards tetralinoleoyl cardiolipin rather than via their scavenging activity.

Redox reactions play key roles in intra- and inter-cellular signaling, and in adaptative processes of tissues towards stress. Among the major free radicals with essential functions in cells are reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide anion (O2•-), hydroxyl radical (•OH) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) such as nitric oxide (•NO). In this article, we review the forgotten and new radicals with potential relevance to cardiovascular pathophysiology. Approximately 0.3% of O2•- present in cytosol exists in its protonated form: hydroperoxyl radical (HO2•). Water (H2O) can be split into two free radicals: •OH and hydrogen radical (H•). Several free radicals, including thiyl radicals (RS•) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2•) are known to isomerize double bonds. In the omega-6 series of poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), cis-trans isomerization of γ-linolenate and arachidonate catalyzed by RS• has been investigated. Evidence is emerging that hydrogen disulphide (H2S) is a signaling molecule in vivo which can be a source of free radicals. The Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme can oxidize the ionized form of H2S to hydro-sulphide radical: HS•. Recent studies suggest that H2S plays an important function in cardiovascular functions. Carbonate radical...

The traditional methods of the biology, based on illustrative descriptions
and linear logic explanations, are discussed. This work aims to improve this
approach by introducing alternative tools to describe and represent complex
biological systems. Two models were developed, one mathematical and another
computational, both were made in order to study the biological process between
free radicals and antioxidants. Each model was used to study the same process
but in different scenarios. The mathematical model was used to study the
biological process in an epithelial cells culture; this model was validated
with the experimental data of Anne Hanneken's research group from the
Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, published by the journal
Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science in July 2006. The computational
model was used to study the same process in an individual. The model was made
using C++ programming language, supported by the network theory of aging.; Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Treball de Recerca, gener de 2012

We demonstrate time-resolved frequency comb spectroscopy (TRFCS), a new broadband absorption spectroscopy technique for the study of trace free radicals on the microsecond timescale. We apply TRFCS to study the time-resolved, mid-infrared absorption of the deuterated hydroxyformyl radical trans-DOCO, an important short-lived intermediate along the OD + CO reaction path. Directly after photolysis of the chemical precursor acrylic acid-d_1, we measure absolute trans-DOCO product concentrations with a sensitivity of 5 × 10^(10) cm^(–3) and observe its subsequent loss with a time resolution of 25 μs. The multiplexed nature of TRFCS allows us to detect simultaneously the time-dependent concentration of several other photoproducts and thus unravel primary and secondary chemical reaction pathways.

Bond dissociation energies (BDEs) and radical stabilization energies (RSEs) associated with a series of 22 monosubstituted methyl radicals (·CH2X) have been determined at a variety of levels including, CBS-RAD, G3(MP2)-RAD, RMP2, UB3-LYP and RB3-LYP. In

In Brazil, Gmelina arborea is a common tree to produce char and the content of carbon is an important factor to correlate with the energy content or carbon sequestration capability, whereas Araucaria angustifolia occupies 6 % of its original territory and Brazilian laws protect old native specimens, since the commercial use of wood is restricted for young cultivated specimens. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is used for detection and quantification of organic free radicals (OFR) and, in this study, it was utilized for exploring OFR content along the rings of one log from G. arborea and A. angustifolia trees, both randomly chosen. The amount of OFR correlated with the carbon content in G. arborea and the age of rings in G. arborea and A. angustifolia. The content of OFR in rings of Gmelina arborea was compared with previous analyses of carbon sequestration in the same tree. Without statistical treatment, an inverse relationship between the carbon and OFR content was found. The concentration of OFR in inner rings (older ages) of A. angustifolia was higher than in outer rings (younger ages). This trend was also observed in G. arborea, suggesting that EPR provides qualitative information about the age. Additionally, a Pleistocene sample of A. angustifolia was analyzed and the content of OFR was one order of magnitude higher than that in the young sample. In conclusion...

The main goal of this investigation is to study the possible mechanisms of Casiopeinas® as anticancer agents. Electrodonating (χ-) and electroaccepting (χ+) electronegativity were calculated applying Density Functional Theory. Two different anticancer mechanisms of Casiopeínas® are proposed. There might be antiradical molecules preventing the formation of cancer cells or these molecules could reduce the amount of GSH and as a result over-produce free radicals, increasing the oxidative stress which in turn kills the cancer cells.

Aging and reduced longevity are due in part to the action of free radicals (FR). Melatonin (Mel) and thioctic acid (TA) are effective in protecting against the damage caused by FR. In this study, the effect of Mel and TA on the life cycle of Drosophila melanogaster was determined. We used a control group of flies, another group that was provided with Mel (0.43 mM) throughout their life cycle (Mel-c), a third group received Mel upon reaching adulthood (Mel-a) and two groups were fed with TA (2.15 mM) in the same manner (TA-c and TA-a). The number of eclosed, survival, phenotype changes, motor activity and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was evaluated in each group. Mel-c increased the eclosion rate and the motor activity of the flies. Mel-c and Mel-a increased the life span and decreased the concentrations of MDA. By contrast, TA-c diminished the eclosion rate, produced phenotypic changes and increased MDA levels and motor activity of the flies. TA-a extended the life span of flies, and did not alter MDA levels and motor activity when compared with the control group. In conclusion, Mel mitigated the effects caused by FR generated during aging, while TA-c increased lipid peroxidation and altered the phenotype of flies